"Okay, I understand. I'll tell them when they get back tonight."
An Qingbai asked curiously.
"Mother, are my eldest and second brothers not here?"
Shi Meiling nodded.
"I told them to go back to your sister-in-law's parents' house after work."
We'll take some of the local specialties we bought in Beijing back to their family home.
Otherwise, it would make us seem stingy.
"He went to the capital without even bringing anything for his in-laws."
Just as Zhuang Zhimeng was about to agree, An Baogen stood up and coughed, and the scene immediately quieted down.
"The main purpose of this meeting is to discuss bringing electricity to the village. What are your thoughts?"
Zhuang Zhimeng stood up when no one spoke first.
"I think we should turn on the electricity. Everyone knows we went to Beijing this time."
To be honest, we bought a lot of appliances, but we can't use them without electricity.
"With electricity, some of our village's sideline businesses have become much easier to develop."
Anbo Gen echoed.
"Zhuang, a educated youth, provided our brigade with some ideas for sideline businesses, and I'll go to the commune for approval in the next couple of days."
Having electricity would indeed make things much more convenient.
The villagers whispered among themselves, discussing it with their families.
An Fugui suddenly stood up.
“I’m against electrification. I don’t think it’s necessary. Electrification costs money, right? I don’t have any money.”
Shi Meiling wasn't going to tolerate him. She smiled sarcastically, stood up, and spoke.
"This trip to Beijing has shown me the difference between the city and our rural area."
Every household keeps their lights on at night.
We are still using kerosene lamps, and some families don't even have kerosene lamps.
During the Spring Festival, families in the city sit indoors watching TV. Can you imagine how wonderful that is?
Speaking of television, my sons and daughters-in-law are all filial; they spent several hundred yuan to buy me a television.
I was planning to invite you guys to my house to watch TV, but if there's no electricity, no one can watch it.
Some people are destined to be frogs at the bottom of a well.
It won't jump out even if you try to get it to; it prefers to stay at the bottom of the well.
An Fugui was so angry that his face turned red, and he was about to stand up and refute, but An Baogen waved his hand.
"These days, no one is asking for trouble."
"If you, Fugui, were to stand up, you would be admitting that you are a frog at the bottom of a well."
"I…"
An Baogen was too lazy to pay attention to him anymore and looked at the whole village.
"Any other opinions are welcome to be shared as well."
Wang Zhaodi stood up.
"I agree with the introduction of electricity. I heard that electric fans are now available for sale in the city."
"It's so hot here in the summer. Wouldn't it be wonderful to come home from work and have a fan blowing on you?"
Tian Cuie also stood up and expressed her opinion.
"I also agree with turning on the electricity. I'd really like to go to Meiling's place to watch TV."
Shi Meiling immediately responded with a smile.
"Okay, come to my house to watch TV when the power is on."
An Baogen noticed that several female comrades had stood up to speak, so he specifically called on the male comrades.
"What are your opinions, guys?"
An Zaimin was the first to stand up.
"I support getting electricity; none of the nearby villages have it."
"If our village gets electricity first, won't people look at us more favorably?"
The villagers nodded in agreement with this reason.
Someone asked loudly.
"Captain, how much will it cost to connect the electricity?"
An Baogen picked up the paper on the table.
I specifically asked about it a few days ago.
Installing utility poles is free.
However, the current electricity price for residential use is 16.5 fen per kilowatt-hour.
The electricity bill will be split equally among the villagers.
The villagers found the price acceptable, and most of them agreed to have electricity.
An Fugui stood up again.
"I still can't agree. Some people use more electricity, and some people use less. Why should it be split evenly?"
An Qingbai was disgusted by his former uncle's constant objections and stood up to make a suggestion.
"I suggest that when installing utility poles, we simply skip the households that disagree."
That way, those who disagree won't have to pay, but they also can't be allowed to use electricity.
An Baogen nodded.
"That's fine. Now, anyone who disagrees with paying, please raise your hand. You can go back now."
"When they install the utility poles, they won't put them in front of your house."
Upon hearing this, An Fugui called his family and left without a word.
An Baogen asked again.
"Is there anyone else who doesn't want to pay the electricity bill? They can leave like An Fugui."
The villagers weren't stupid; the village leaders clearly agreed to get electricity, so following their lead was the right thing to do, and no one left.
An Baogen was very satisfied.
"Okay, I'll apply for the installation of utility poles in our village tomorrow."
"Let's get electricity to our village as soon as possible."
After the meeting, Zhuang Zhimeng informed Aunt Wang, and the four of them went home with Aunt Tian to bring the chickens back.
"Your chickens are really good; they lay eggs every day. Shall I pack a few eggs for you to take with you?"
Zhuang Zhimeng, representing the group, shook her head repeatedly.
"Aunt Tian, no need. We agreed that the eggs would be yours, so we don't need them."
Please remember to come to my house at eight o'clock tomorrow.
"Okay, I'll be there when it's time."
The two men were holding a stool in their left hands and two hens in their right hands.
Jiang Yanxia carried two chickens herself.
"Why is An Fugui so jumpy? He's the one who jumps the most enthusiastically."
Zhuang Zhimeng smiled.
"Isn't this just a case of ugly people making trouble?"
Su Mengmeng glanced at An Qingbai shyly.
"Brother An, please don't take offense. I think so too. He only lasted one night."
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